Appratus for converting metals.



PATBNTED APR. 30l 1907.

.R. L. LLOYD. APPARATUS FOR'CONVBRTING METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, 1.900.y

4 nnnTs-snnnr a.

fllll PATENTED APR. 30. 1907.

R.L.LL0YD. APPARATUS PoR CONVERTING METALS APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1908.

4 SHEETB-BHEET 3.

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. Glvi lima/ aoco` PATENTED APR. v30, 1907.

R. L. LLOYD. APPARATUS FOB. CONVERTING METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUGA, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

RICHARD L. LLOYD, OF CANANEA, MEXICO.

APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING METALS.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented April so, ico?.-

Application led August 4, 1906. Serial No. 329,137.

all whmrt it may concern: A Be it known that I, RICHARD L. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, now a resident of Cananea, Senora, in the Republic of Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Converting Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the refining of metals, and especially' to the refiniiw of copper, in which it finds its greatest uti ity. It has to do with that part of the process in which copper matte is converted to metallic copper in an apparatus commonly known as a converterf and it consists in new combinations of converters with other apparatus by which the process may be rendered continuous, so that the copper matte may be delivered direct from the furnace in which it is made,'and with suitable flux carried through the apparatus herein described continuously,

comingout at the end of the process as metallie copper.

(liscliparged Fand 4which So far as I am aware no continuous operation of converting apparatus 1n the sense here employed has heretofore been possible.

In brief, the apparatus illustrated consists of feeding barrels somewhat resembling converters in theirl construction, a primary and a secondary converter, all of the horizontal type, and all so arranged that the materials under treatment may pass consecutively from one part of the apparatus to another by gravity; suitable arrangements are made for the removal of the slag as it forms, and for the further refining of the copper, if desired, after it' leaves the secondary converter.

Anotherl important feature off the apparatus is that the blast, after passing through the first. converter, (where it becomes intensely heated by the oxidation of the materials and theircombination into the slag, and especially by the oxidation of the sulfur and iron), instead of passing directly into the atmosphere passesthrough the feeding barrels, as -I pree fer (No, call them, and thence to the stack through the secondary converter, in its course passing over the exit hearth of the secondary converter, into which the metallic copper is is the coolestpoint in the process.

' Thisarrangement prevents the chilling of the c,opp,er;and also tends to keep the second convie etrhighly heated, the reactions in that at the completion ofthe operation,

part of the operation not being so intense as 1n the first and therefore not producing so much heat.

The process by which the matte is refined and to effect which I have devised the present invention ,is not claimed in this application, being covered by m pending application, Serial No. 329,136 filed August 4th, 1906. Obviously I am not restricted in the use. of the present apparatus to the particular process set out in thatcase, although I believe that to be one of great utility, but aim to cover in this case all of the utilities inherent in the apparatus.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the mechanical features of my inventlon.-

In these, Figure 1 is a plan of the arrangement ofconverters and feeding barrels. Figs. 2 to 5 are elevations from dierent sides of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 6--6u are -respectivel an end elevation and a partial section o the primary converter D. Figs. 7-7a are respectively an end elevation and partial section Aof the secondary converter F. Fi s. 8 8 are an elevation and a section upon t e line 8-8 of one of thefeeding barrels, which are substantially alike in construction.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5, D is the primary converter, composed, as is usual, of a metallic shell with a suitable refractory lining. In the apparatus which I employ when used in the particular process described inl pending ap lication already referred to, the i nings of al the converters and feeding barrels may be basic or neutral, since I furnish the necessary silicious flux in other ways and do' not employ the common tamped silica lining; I prefer for the.lining a magnesite or similar brick, which is not only ree fractoify but does .not break down under the reactions inherent in the process. The end of the converter nearest the. hearth C, to be presently described, presents no peculiarity, being only slightly contracted, but the end next the hearth E (see'Figs. 6 and 6a) is partly closed by a dam d, the shape of which 1s such that it will retain the copper sulfid to a certain depth m the bottom of the converter,

while the slag, when enough isformed, Will' flow over into the hearth E. The converter IOO may be rotated by means of its mot r Ql (see Fig. 1 until the dam d is turned to` ne side, Y

to time, or may vHow continuously from the that the pressure may be kept on until the through the openings CC2 in the hearth,-

stitutes with the Wall a siphon dam through whereupon it discharges completely into the hearth E. The twyers O, seen best in Fig. 2, are su plied With air through a {iexible pipe M lea ing from the source of air pressure', so

twyers are lifted by the rotation of the converter above the motten material, keeping them clear.

The two feeding barrels A-A1 are of substantially the same construction, seen best in Figs. S-Sa; they consist, like the converter, of metallic shells lined with appropriate basic or other refractory linings. At the ends nearest` the hearth C are openings A? intowhich,

may be charged the molten matte and slag orother flux by any suitable means. g By the motors Q Qthe feeding barrels may then be rotated as desired and the melted material, maintained at very high temperature by the blast from the converter D passingacross the hearth and through the barrels, may thus be discharged upon the hearth from the open' ings A2 as they are lowered in such proportions as the engineer desires, and will then enter the'converter (being practically at come bination temperature) through the spout C,

the openings A3 permit the blast to proceed'fff-v through the barrels.

The constructionof the hearth C will be obvious from the drawings and embraces no peculiarity. A furnace B is provided so that when it is desired to start the operation, or when under some conditions it is desired to use a dry flux or otherwise, fire may be provided and an o ening L is also 4provided as an outlet if lthe s ag should foam over, or any other accident occur.

' The construction ofv the hearth E is best, understood from Figs. 1, 2, and 4; it is closed on the side toward the stack, not illustrated, by a wall E1, having perforations at the hottom of it, and an abutment FJ beyond the Wall andhigher than the 'perforations conwhich the .copper sulfid'formed in the converter D may pass, but which is-impervlous to the slag; the latter 1s removedfrom time opening E2 (seey Fig. 4l);A after passing over the abutment E3 the co per sulfid flows through the spout'F2 into t 1e secondary converter F. Passingintothe converter F the copper sulid is again.` blow'ri to metallicI copper, the sulfur being oxidized into sulfurous acid gas; as already pointed out this part of the process does riot generate so much heat as that which is carried on in the converter D.` The blast vfrom the converter F passes by the lues H, J, to the stack, which is not illustrated. inthe delivery end of the convert-er F (see Figs. A7-71.),'is a siphon dam somewhat like that in the hearth E, consisting of the WallIf with perforations f l and an. abutment f2 cated beyond' it ;`the metallic copper, which is heavier than eo per sullid or Figs. 1 and 5); here it may be poled or other-v wise further refined as may be desired, and may be removed by the opening g. The blast from the converter D, as already indicated, after passing through the barrels A- A1 enters the flue N and then passes .across hearth G to the converter' F, and thence to the stack. Of course', the remaining heat may be utilized in any desired way, as by heating boilers or the like, or acid chambers may be formed in the llues forthe more economical practice of the process, but these particulars having no relation to .my invention except that they are not inconsistent with its use, are not illustrated or described.

Having thus described 1n y invention, what I claim andwish to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In an apparatus for refining metals, the combination of a horizontal converter revoluble about a horizontal axis, with separate independently controllable feeding apparatus 'for the flux `and for the metal to be refined located between the converter and the stack,

als, a feeding Adevice consisting of a barrel,

and so arranged that the blast from the eonhaving'an'opening in one end adjacent to the side, with means for revolving the barrel; whereby when the opening is brought to the -top of the revolution', material to be treated may be charged thereinto, and by revolving the barrel to bring v.the opening below, may be discharged therefrom at desired times and in desired vamounts.

3. In an apparatus for refining metals, feeding apparatus for the flux and the metal to be refined, consisting of feeding-barrels, each having an opening in one end adjacent to the side thereof, with means for independently revolving them so that the discharge of the flux` and of metal majY be'indepemlently controlled.

4. ln' an apparatus for refining met-als, the combination'with primary and secondary hoaizontal converters revoluble about llorizontalaxcs, of separate feeding-barrels for the flux and the metal to be refined, located between one end of the primary converter' and the exit hearth olf the secondary converter, and so arranged tl.at'tl.e blast from the primary converter passes through both of the vfeeding.: barrels and through the secondary converterV to the stack;.w ith a ICO connection between the other ends of the two 5. In an apparatus for refining metals,

converter series comprising communicating" primary. and secondary converters, means sensi? 7. An apparatus for convertingl metals,vv

comprising a plurality of horizontal converters and .a feeding apparatus, the first converter being lower than the feeding apparatus, and means for discharging the partially refined matte into a second converter, lower than the first.

8. An apparatus for converting metals,

comprising afplurality of horizontal conver- AtersV af'l feeding apparatus located between adjacent Jnds of the converters; the primary converter being lower than the feeding apparatus so that the materials to be treated may fiow thereinto by gravity, and the secondary converter being lower than the primary; with aconnection between the convertersat one end, through i nich the partially refined material may flow, the said connection being impervious to the i ast and to the slag and apassage for the hast from the first converter through the feeding apparatus and the second converter to the stack.

9. The combination, with a converter, of separate feeding barrels for the metalto be treated and for its flux, means for charging the materials into the feeding barrels in one position, and means for rotatingr the feedingarrels and thereby releasing the charge into the converter.

10. An' apparatus for the refining of /metal, consisting of a plurality of converters and a feeding apparatus so arranged between them that the blast from the first converter passes through the feeding apparatus into the second converter.

11. In an apparatus for refining metals, the combination of a converter, feeding apparatus for the metal to be refined, feeding apparatus for the flux, an opening for the blast from the first converter to the feeding apparatus, means for passing the metal from the first converter intothe second, andv an opening yfor the blast from the feeding apparatus into the secend converter; whereby the metal passes in one direction from the feeding apparatus through the two converters to an outlet, and the biast passes from the first converter through the `feeding apparatus and the second converter to a stack, in the opposite direction to the metal.

12. Tne combination of a series of converters for thesuccessive refining of metal,

with means for passing the metal from one to the other at one end and means for passingy .the blast from the first converter across the exit hearth of the second converter and through the second converter; whereby the metal-fiowng from the second converter is heated by theblast from the first and prevented from chilling.

13. The combination of plurality of converters part of which receives relatively impure metal containing a considerable amount of'oxidizable impurities, whereby it is maintained at a relatively high temperature; and the remainder of `which receive the metal after it has been partially puilified, so that the oxidation of the im nirities therein is less than in the first art, w ereby the heat therein is relatively ess; with means for passing the blast from the first part through the second and across the exit for the metal therefrom; whereby the surplus heat from the first part of the converter is used to prevent the chilling of the metal in the second.

14. The combination, with two converters for the successive refining of metal, of feeding devices for the first converter'connected bctween one end thereof and the exit hearth of tlfe second converter, a dam between thc other end of the first converter and the stack, permitting the flow of metal into the second converter and stopping the blast from ther first from passing into, the stack, and a channel for the blast through thc feeding devices and across the 'exit hearth of the second converter; whereby the metal from the first converter after being partially' refined passes into the second converter for further treati ment, and the blast from-the first converter passes through the feeding devices and the second converter to the stack.

15. A conversion apparatus for metal refining, comprising a pair of substantially horizontal converters revoluble about longitudinal axes, with a horizontal feeding apparatus located between them.

16. In a conversion apparatus for metal refining, a pair of horizontal converters revoluble about longitudinal axes, a connection between the two cmivertcrs at one end through which metal may pass but sealed against the blast, a horizontal feeding apparatus located between the other ends of the converters, and a passage for the blast from the first converter through the feeding apparatus and the second converter.

17. The combination of a pair of converters for .the successive refining of metal,with a passage for the metal from one to the other, said passage being impervious to the blast;

with another connection, open te the blast, s

between the converters.

1S. The combination of a pair of approximately horizontal converters for the successive refining of metal, with a passage for the metal from one to the other, said passage. be-

IOC

ing impervious to the blast; with another coi'uiection, open to the blast, between the converters.

19. 'l he combination of a pair of approximately horizontal converters revoluble about longitudinal axes, With means for rotating them as desired, a passage for. the metal from one converter to the other at adjacent ends, the passage being impervious to the blast.; with a connection, open to the blast, between the converters at their other ends.

20. In an apparatus for refining metals, the combination With converters and feeding apparatus therefor so located that the blast from the converter passes therethrough to the stack, of an auxiliary furnace arranged to Y heat the contents of the feeding apparatus at desired times.

2l. In an apparatus for refining metals, a suitable converter, means vfor feeding thereinto at desired times from independent sources suitable proportions of the crude metal and a flux respectively, and means for directing the blast of the converter upon the materials delivered thereto, during' the feeding operation.

22. In an apparatus for refining metals, a suitable converter,A means for introducing thereinto from independent sources suitable proportions of the metal to be refined and a flux therefor, and means for heating the' charges of metal and flux so introduced by the blast from the convert-er.

23. In an apparatus for refining metals, a

suitable converter, means for introducing thereinto from independent sources an`initial charge ofcrude metal and a flux therefor,

means for removing the partially refined'.

metal from the converter, and means for inf of the discharge contents of the last conj verter of the series.

25. In combination with a series of converters adapted to discharge, into one an-v other, means for feeding into the first converter suitable proportions of the crude metal and a flux from inde endent sources of supply, means Afor conductlng the blast from the first converter through such feeding means and in the path of and in the opposite directionto the flow of the contents of the last converter. A

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July 1906, in the `presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD L. LLOYD. y Witnesses:

J. T. WILKEY, W. B. PRICE. 

